Most of us here on American Debt Project are looking for a way to become financially stable and liberated. However, often on this journey towards achieving this goal, we overwhelm ourselves with constantly calculating, comparing, researching, and maximizing our time and money. No matter what your financial situation is, it’s not worth driving yourself into a state of anxiousness and desperation in order to attempt to fix it.
Eliminating debt is all about balance and applying simple strategies to get real results. Though it’s definitely a lifestyle change, it’s not the sole purpose of your existence, and some of us have trouble facing this truth.
There are situations in which it is worth paying a premium to have peace of mind, even if that means losing out on some savings or even paying extra:
- Insurance
It seems that everyone has a love/hate relationship with insurance. Though we see the value in having it in case everything goes wrong- not all of us have had to use it. When you calculate your payments over the years on your home, car, business, appliances, or even computer, you’ll find that it’s not always “worth it”. But the thing about insurance is that there’s no way to predict whether or not you will ever need it. However, we choose to have it because we know that otherwise we would have a very hard time financially dealing with and recovering from a blow like a destroyed home or totaled car. On top of all of this, there is the case for giving you the peace of mind to sleep at night. No worrying whether your rental car will be scratched or if you fall sick on your honeymoon- insurance has got you covered!
- Postage Tracking
Though we know that “snail mail” has become a much quicker and more effective way of moving information and items than it used to be, there are still many things that can go wrong. Those of us on a budget are often tempted to go with the cheapest mailing option, even if it is the slowest, because we want to save money. However, depending on what the contents are, you might want to consider a better option which includes tracking and maybe insurance as well. Otherwise, you risk losing the entire value you are sending plus the cost of the postage, even if it was the cheapest one. This is especially important if you are shipping products out to clients who value having a tracking number and would be deeply unsatisfied if their purchase did not come on time. Having postage tracking also keeps you informed and not double guessing whether or not your recipient has successful received the item.
- Security
Security today is much more complicated than it used to be, as risk has gone past a physical one and now affects the virtual realm. If you want to decrease your stress levels and leave the worrying to the experts, carve out a sum in your budget that will cover things like alarm systems, virus protection services, and a lock for your gym locker. If you are going to waste time and sleep worrying about it, it’s a much better idea to let go of that anxiety and trust that your safeguards are sufficient to keep you, your family, and your personal and business information safe.
- Moving Team
Moving houses can be a stressful time. On top of all the expenses, all the paperwork, and the packing, there is also the elevated risk of your belongings either being damaged or going missing. Your entire life’s belongings are literally in the hands of the strangers who make up your moving team. Choose a company offering high quality moving services to have peace of mind during this busy time, and direct your energy into something more productive.
- Home Inspections
When purchasing a home, especially one that seems to be “the one”, it’s easy to just want to jump at the occasion. However, to quiet that niggling voice at the back of your mind, it’s best to put down a condition in your offer regarding purchase upon a successful home inspection. A house is a big investment, and you want to make sure that you are confident in the condition of this building. The money spent on a professional home inspection will give you that extra bounce in your step as you know that you are making a sound financial investment.
Sometimes paying for peace of mind is actually a better investment of your money overall, as we have seen in these examples. Remember to value yourself and your health when making financial decisions.